DK40 front bearing failure @ 1300 hours

[PA hayseed]

Just to clarify, I have moved at least 200+ tons of gravel, as I will get a triaxle delivery of 23 tons at a time. I have moved a pile of sandstone that I estimate to be around 60 tons several times, as I cut it and use it then move it to the next location. I could not even fathom a guess as to how much dirt and topsoil ( a couple hundred tons). I used the FEL for excavation of my house when I moved it, and I used it for filling in the old house area (think angled front end loader use). I used it for excavating my mothers property, my buddies property, and two driveways (including shale compaction). I cleared out an old farmstead with it. and to top it off Every year the state "gifts" me anywhere from 1-4 tons of antiskid spread across my road frontage, by the end of winter. I don't have a cluse as to how much snow/ice the thing has moved. I also use it to move/ sift my topsoil/compost pile yearly. My point is that I have used mine a lot and that may not be indicative of the standard tractor users usage.

 

[liberty2701]

Just to clarify, I have moved at least 200+ tons of gravel, as I will get a triaxle delivery of 23 tons at a time. I have moved a pile of sandstone that I estimate to be around 60 tons several times, as I cut it and use it then move it to the next location. I could not even fathom a guess as to how much dirt and topsoil ( a couple hundred tons). I used the FEL for excavation of my house when I moved it, and I used it for filling in the old house area (think angled front end loader use). I used it for excavating my mothers property, my buddies property, and two driveways (including shale compaction). I cleared out an old farmstead with it. and to top it off Every year the state "gifts" me anywhere from 1-4 tons of antiskid spread across my road frontage, by the end of winter. I don't have a cluse as to how much snow/ice the thing has moved. I also use it to move/ sift my topsoil/compost pile yearly. My point is that I have used mine a lot and that may not be indicative of the standard tractor users usage.

Wow, you worked it. I do all my own repairs. I will monitor and maybe do a bearing/ seal replacement at 1000 hrs as a precaution.

 

[fatboycowen]

What about pulling on the front wheels to check for play every time you run the machine? Like you would on a race car.

 

[dfkrug]

I don't know how much that box blade wieghs probably 500-600.

You guys with the DK 40/45/50 tractors: your FEL has enormous lifting capacity. And not just compared
to my relatively wimpy CK30 loader. For serious FEL work, I can see why you need 1000# on the hitch. What
I would do if I did not have a backhoe attachment is to rig up your box blade with some brackets or a receiver to hold
more weight. A custom weight would work, but you could also use an old engine block (or 2).

 

[JimR]

You guys with the DK 40/45/50 tractors: your FEL has enormous lifting capacity. And not just compared
to my relatively wimpy CK30 loader. For serious FEL work, I can see why you need 1000# on the hitch. What
I would do if I did not have a backhoe attachment is to rig up your box blade with some brackets or a receiver to hold
more weight. A custom weight would work, but you could also use an old engine block (or 2).

The custom heavy weight box in the rear would be the solution for this counter-balance problem for tight space usage.

 

[Billrog]

A counter balance just behind the back wheels will help keep the back wheels on the ground with a bucket full but as far as a fulcrum goes to keep weight off the front wheels is almost insignificant considering how far the loaded bucket is out in front the back wheels.

 

[DieselBound]

A counter balance just behind the back wheels will help keep the back wheels on the ground with a bucket full but as far as a fulcrum goes to keep weight off the front wheels is almost insignificant considering how far the loaded bucket is out in front the back wheels.

Yup!

Anyone who is around weigh scales might be able to prove this all out. IF there's any advantage is is only a small amount.

The nature of things is that running them at near max capacity is going to offer up a shorter lifespan. It's the trade-off of getting more work done faster.

 

[dfkrug]

A counter balance just behind the back wheels will help keep the back wheels on the ground with a bucket full but as far as a fulcrum goes to keep weight off the front wheels is almost insignificant considering how far the loaded bucket is out in front the back wheels.

The downward force exerted on the 3pt hitch results in upward force on the front of the tractor as we all
know. That amount is reduced by the length of the moment arm, but it is hardly insignificant. Draw a
free-body diagram. For example, if you centered a point-load of 1200# on your hitch at, say, 3-feet
behind your rear axle, that will result in a 400# upward force about the rear axle at
9 feet in front of the rear axle. Of course, this is a rough approximation; loads are
distributed, not point loads.

The DK40/45/50 also has an enormous 3-pt lifting capacity, maybe 3000#? I would
probably shoot for 1500# on the hitch at 4 feet behind.

 

[JimR]

The downward force exerted on the 3pt hitch results in upward force on the front of the tractor as we all
know. That amount is reduced by the length of the moment arm, but it is hardly insignificant. Draw a
free-body diagram. For example, if you centered a point-load of 1200# on your hitch at, say, 3-feet
behind your rear axle, that will result in a 400# upward force about the rear axle at
9 feet in front of the rear axle. Of course, this is a rough approximation; loads are
distributed, not point loads.

The DK40/45/50 also has an enormous 3-pt lifting capacity, maybe 3000#? I would
probably shoot for 1500# on the hitch at 4 feet behind.

If that is the case maybe 2K would be even better.

 

[oercheron]

I see that this is an older thread but since the same thing happened to my DK45SE at around 1000 hrs I thought it may help someone else for me to comment.

The left front bearing failed catastrophically, taking out the axle shaft and cover. Cost was about $1000 CAD for all the parts, I did the labour myself.

After repairing the left side, I took the right side apart. Bearings were horribly scored and looked to me near failure. I replaced them, an easy job, cost about $75 and both bearings were standard automotive type, available anywhere.

My use of this tractor is almost always as a loader, and I usually carry a bucket full of heavy material (gravel, boulders, concrete blocks) a long distance over rough ground. In addition I have added a spill guard to the top of the bucket and a cutting edge to the bottom, increasing its capacity. I do have about 850 lbs counterweight.

I will from now on be replacing front wheel bearings at around very 500 hrs, as they are not all that expensive, and it is not a big job to change them.